Library

There are many reasons for an individual to visit the library in their town or city. The library is a collection of books, periodicals, computers and other sources that are usually available to residents for free. One of the main library purposes that serve a community is giving an individual a place to research a subject.

• The main library in an area will usually be the biggest and most well-stocked building within the library branch. For instance, the New York Public Library has many branches but the main library is the largest location, with three floors and hundreds of thousands of ways to do research. To start researching a subject in the library, one should do a search on the available resources within the main library on the subject. If an individual is researching birds, then they should do a search of what books and videos the library has on birds. Nowadays, the library catalog is available through a computer within the library. There are also magazine articles and newspaper articles available.

• One should not just search the computer databases in the main library. Librarians are available to help individuals find the location of various items. If an item is available at one branch of the library but not another, the librarian can request an inter-library loan on the item. This allows the individual to get the source at their main library after it is sent there, even though the item is usually located in another branch. The person should also be able to return this item to the same branch of the library that they normally use; in other words, their main library.

• After searching the library catalog, the individual should find the location of the sources that are going to be used. This is done by finding the call numbers, which are a series of numbers and letters that categorize the sections of non-fiction books. Sections are arranged according to topic. When in the library, an individual may notice books on their subject in the bookshelves that they did not notice on the library Internet database. An individual who is searching for a newspaper or magazine article will have to search a different section of the library. The main library will have a section specifically for magazines and newspapers. The articles are not arranged according to topic, but according to year and name.

With the help of the library Internet database, which lists every resource available in the library, as well as the library staff, an individual can find exactly what sources they need to research a subject.

Libraries

A library used to simply be a collection of books. Libraries could mean the actual books or the building that the books were located in. Often, the word library meant both. Now, in the age of technology, libraries are much more that. The resources that a library has can now include not only books but computer and Internet access, movies, audio books, tutors and a host of other sources.

• Most libraries are public libraries because they are paid for by public sources such as local tax money. Public libraries are used by people who either cannot or will not purchase all the books they may need or want to read. As a method of free entertainment, public libraries are considered wonderful places for individuals, especially children, to spend free time. Many people who cannot afford computers can sign up for blocks of time to reserve a computer. Libraries offer computer use for both research and recreation. It is up to the individual to decide what to do on the library computers. There are some websites that are not allowed to be viewed from these library computers, since they are public.

• Libraries are arranged by departments in various classification systems. Non-fiction books are broken down into sections within the libraries and organized by the Dewey Decimal system. The Dewey Decimal System is organized by numbers. After those numbers and a decimal, there are letters showing the section within the library that the book is in. The books are then shelved in the library according to numbers. There are computers in libraries that can find information about the book that an individual is looking for. These computers can also tell someone if the library has that book, and if they do not what other libraries do have it. The library could then order this book for the individual or the person can go to the other library to pick it up. Libraries used to have card catalogs to help a person find the material they wanted. Computers have online databases listing the books within a library that is much quicker and easier to use.

• Fiction books in libraries are classified by author, and they are alphabetical. Although libraries will usually have a special sections for teens and children, adult fiction is not usually broken into categories. Some libraries however, do have a special section for newer books.

Libraries can be great places to complete homework, do Internet research, or just check out books to enjoy or learn from. Some libraries even host poetry readings and visiting authors. There are many things to do at a library that can be fun and free.

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie was not called the Patron Saint of Libraries for no reason. Credited for started over 2500 Carnegie libraries, Andrew Carnegie was a philanthropist and a Scottish American businessman. He had both the means and desire to build public and university libraries.

• When Andrew Carnegie was a child, he had no idea that he would someday be responsible for creating the famous Carnegie libraries. However, he spent much of his childhood reading and going to libraries. The future creator of the Carnegie Library system also had a father who was responsible for helping to found the Tradesmen’s Subscription Library, which was subscribed to buy a good number of individuals. Andrew Carnegie used to listen to public readings that the Tradesmen’s Subscription Library.

• The man behind Carnegie libraries began working for a telegraph company when he was a young adult in Pennsylvania. The owner of this company had his own personal library that he let his workers use on Saturdays. During that time period, many believed that the common working man should not be entitled to learn how to read. It was somewhat of a big deal for a wealthy man to promote literacy amongst his working class employees. As a hard working immigrant, Andrew Carnegie would use this philosophy to create the first Carnegie Library.

• Most of the 2500 Carnegie libraries that were built was with the help of local supporters. Andrew Carnegie believed in getting the community involved by using what was called the Carnegie Formula: he would match the community monetary contributions made by individuals and other requirements. Andrew Carnegie rarely denied a request from a town to build a Carnegie Library. Instead, he required that the people be willing to have taxes raised to support the Carnegie Library. Andrew Carnegie also required the area to demonstrate its need for a Carnegie Library, provide the building and finance 10% of the yearly construction fees of Carnegie Library.

• Eventually, Andrew Carnegie was responsible for funding at least 2500 Carnegie libraries around the world. Most of the Carnegie libraries were in the United States; roughly 1700. The additional Carnegie libraries were built in many different places including Britain, Ireland, and Fiji. Many southerners did not believe that African Americans should have been allowed to know how to read. When dealing with the racism of southern America and the required segregation, Andrew Carnegie went as far as to build separate Carnegie libraries specifically for African Americans.

It is because of Andrew Carnegie and his Carnegie libraries that many individuals in the late 1800s and early 1900s had access to the large amount of reading material that they had. Andrew Carnegie will forever be known for his Carnegie Library legacy.

Public Library NY

A public library is a library funded by public money, such as taxpayer money. The purpose of a public library is to provide books, Internet access and many other resources to the public for free. Even DVDs and movies are available for free rentals. Public libraries are not new, in fact the first organization that was considered to be a public library was created in the late 1500s.

• The first public library was created in England. At that time, the only people who were able to use libraries were individuals who joined a cathedral or were enrolled in college. This public library was called Francis Trigge Chained Library. This public library actually still exists and is famous for its long standing history of giving the people free access to all library resources. Although this library was the first, it stood nearly alone in its existence until the mid 1800s. That was the time period in which public libraries began to become popular.

• In England, Parliament decided to make a committee dedicated to considering the creation of multiple public libraries. The committee was supposed to decide if a public library was something that would benefit the public. The committee reported back that public libraries would be beneficial, since so many people were poor. The recommendation was to open multiple public libraries throughout the country. This decision led to the Public Libraries Act of 1850. The act allowed all cities to collect taxes for public library support, providing that the population of the city had at least 10,000 people.

• This was quickly followed by the Public School Law, created in 1870. The point of this law was to raise the literacy rate of the public, since it was very low at the time. The only people who really knew how to read were rich people and scholars. Obviously, this literacy need increased the need for public libraries. By the 1870s, over 50 cities had created public libraries of their own. Only 30 years later, the number of public libraries hit 300. This was the time when public libraries began opening everywhere, and the United States began funding them as well. A public library was funded by public money, but it was also common for the people to help out these public libraries grow and flourish. Womens’ clubs and the wealthy donated books to these public libraries to improve their selections.

Today, there are hundreds of thousands of public libraries in the world. The larger the city, the more public libraries will be found there. Unfortunately, despite the great need and desire for public libraries, funding for them are cut consistently by the state legislature. Large amounts of money to fund public libraries are made by private donors who have the wealth and desire to see a public library being used